Chapter 400: General Chen, you truly are a divine being!

The candlelight inside the tent flickered, stretching the silhouette seated at the front of the table into a slender shape.

Chen Yan, dressed in battle attire, lightly closed his eyes; his fingers rhythmically tapped the military token on the table, and only upon hearing the sound did he slowly open his eyes.

A faint smile curled at his mouth as he praised, "A Ze did well!"

The great victory at Auspicious Time Pass, the embroidered‑cloak envoys had already reported the news.....

Yuwen Ze smiled, his tone sincere: "It is all thanks to A Xiong's brilliant strategy and Governor Hua's elite troops from Weizhou!"

He paused, then humbly said, "I am merely reciting the script..."

Nevertheless, despite his words, this was Yuwen Ze's first personal victory, and his heart was still excited.....

Standing aside, Hua Jiao had already heard their conversation; seeing Yuwen Ze's modest deflection of credit, she stepped forward, her armor clanking with a crisp sound, a perfectly timed smile on her face, and said respectfully yet earnestly, "All credit belongs to the Prince Heir!"

He looked up at Chen Yan, bowed his hand to Yuwen Ze, and loudly declared, "My subordinate and the Weizhou troops only played a trivial supporting role!"

Between the lines, the flattery and sycophancy are unmistakable.

That is, after all, the only son of the Grand Tomb Minister!

As long as one catches this lord's eye, gains his favor, and is remembered by him, won't future promotions and advancements be plentiful?

Can such modest achievements possibly compare?

Yu Jian stood aside, watching Yuwen Ze's unmistakable vigor, a deep envy swelling in his eyes, and thought silently, "Being by Lord Chen Yan's side truly offers opportunities everywhere....."

"I wonder when it'll be my turn!"

Thinking of this, Yu Jian quietly clenched the hand hidden in his sleeve.....

This Hezhou pacification battle still holds many opportunities; he must seize them from now on!

Chen Yan rose, walked to Yuwen Ze, and gave his shoulder a firm pat, his tone affectionate and approving: "You brat!"

Having said so, he turned, his gaze sweeping the tent's occupants, finally landing on You Xian standing at the side, and in a deep voice commanded, "You Xian, bring up the captured bandit leader seized by A Ze!"

"Understood." You Xian replied, then swiftly burst out of the tent, his movements crisp and unhesitant.

Moments later, the tent curtain was flung open with a "whoosh".

You Xian led four embroidered‑cloak envoys clad in Xuanse Jinshen, hurried in, escorting the heavily bound Shen Zhiyan and Ming Shuo, and stopped at the center of the tent.

"Bang!"

"Ugh!"

The envoys flexed their wrists, and the two lost balance, crashing onto the cold floor, a painful cry erupting from their throats.

Shen Zhiyan struggled to lift his head, bloodshot eyes beneath disheveled hair, glaring at everyone in the tent, a garbled roar issuing from his mouth.

Ming Shuo collapsed on the ground, his cheek dusted with earth, his gaze vacant.

Chen Yan stepped forward slowly, looking down at the two for a moment, then gradually crouched.

His fingertips hooked the coarse cloth bundles in their mouths; with a slight tug he pulled them out, and he asked with a smile, "You two are the generals of the Tongtian Society responsible for ambushes at Auspicious Time Pass, aren't you?"

"Do you not know what ranks you hold within the Tongtian Society?"

Ming Shuo, still sprawled on the ground, used the tent's candlelight to see Chen Yan's appearance—

Only seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in battle attire yet exuding composure, his handsome and heroic visage, his eyes sharp enough to seem to pierce the soul.

He hesitated, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and with a voice tinged by post‑catastrophe daze asked, "You must be the renowned Lord Chen Yan, right?"

Having said so, he couldn't help but sigh, filled with complex emotion: "Truly, a hero emerges in youth!"

Until now he only knew this young soldier was formidable, never imagining he could be this powerful......

Even without a formal battle, he had already become his captive!

Shen Zhiyan coughed violently a few times, his chest heaving wildly, each gasp hoarse and raspy.

He strained to lift his head, bloodshot eyes fixed on Chen Yan, the blue veins on his neck bulging from exertion, he barked, "Lord Chen Yan, don't waste your effort trying to persuade surrender!"

Then, struggling to rise but bound tightly by rope, he could only twist futilely, his voice growing more resonant, "I, Shen Zhiyan, am no soft bone!"

"I would never betray the Society's master!"

He presented an unmistakably iron‑bony demeanor.

He looked extremely resolute.

Chen Yan, intrigued, examined Shen Zhiyan's unyielding defiance, then let out a low chuckle, his laugh tinged with amusement and mockery; leaning forward, his fingertips lightly tapped the man's shoulder, his tone airy yet as sharp as an ice spear, "Who said I would try to persuade you two to surrender?"

Shen Zhiyan's hardened expression froze instantly.

The strained neck relaxed slightly, a flash of astonishment passing through his bloodshot eyes.

The previously taut nerves suddenly twitched, an inexplicable chill crawling up his spine......

Ming Shuo's mind simultaneously flooded with a bad premonition.

"Old Gu." Chen Yan rose and called.

"Subordinate General present!" Gu Yu Ci stepped forward immediately, replying.

"You haven't forgotten the original ideological baptism, have you?" Chen Yan asked with a half‑smile, rubbing his fingertips.

"The Subordinate General certainly keeps it in mind!" Gu Yu Ci shook his head, clasped his fists, and said solemnly.

Hearing this, Chen Yan nodded with satisfaction, his fingertips casually tracing the military token on the table; his gaze shifted to the fallen Shen Zhiyan and Ming Shuo, instantly chilling, his tone devoid of warmth: "Very well, bring these two before the captives for beheading!"

After a pause, he stepped forward, his voice lowered yet each word crystal clear: "Before the execution, read out their Crime List: secretly setting ambushes against the King's Army, looting civilians and harming villages, colluding with the Tongtian Society to plot rebellion—each charge deserves a death a thousand times!"

"And reorganize those four thousand captives, selecting the elite among them!"

He glanced at the night outside the tent, adding, "The remaining old, weak—"

"the crippled soldiers need not be conscripted, but they cannot be released either......"

"First have them clear the battlefield at Auspicious Time Pass, bury the corpses; after that, send them to work the nearby official fields, overseen by local officials, providing them a meal, ensuring they have no chance to gather and cause trouble."

"Public beheadings serve as a warning—like killing a chicken to scare a monkey—so that surrendered soldiers see clearly the fate of those who resist or side with rebels."

"Through intimidation, the ideological re‑education (brainwashing) proceeds more smoothly....."

"And with sufficient labor, Hezhou will later restore production and construction!"

【61】 "Understood."

Gu Yuci listened meticulously, nodding heavily after each point; when Chen Yan finished speaking, he immediately clasped his fists and took the order: "Subordinate General, I'll handle it right away…."

Having said that, he summoned a few bodyguards, rushed forward, lifted the limp Shen Zhiyan and Ming Shuo from the ground, and dragged them out of the tent.

Yuwen Ze saw Gu Yuci escort the prisoners away and, as if recalling something, stepped forward, bowed to Chen Yan and said, "A Xiong, during the battle at Auspicious Time Pass, I discovered a talent…"

"He led the capture of Shen Zhiyan and Ming Shuo, who were about to flee, and intends to use them for Surrender!"

"I see this youngster is quick to assess the situation and decisive in action, not a muddled, mediocre person…"

Chen Yan heard this, nodded slowly, tapped his fingertips lightly on the desk, and a subtly meaningful smile curved his lips: "That's rather interesting!"

He paused briefly, thought for a moment, then continued: "Then let this person command a unit of reorganized elite prisoners…"

Yuwen Ze was startled at first, then a flash of sudden understanding lit his eyes, and he laughed, "A Xiong, excellent insight!"

Saying so, he raised his thumb sincerely, full of admiration.

Yu Qing, being a Liuren himself, understands Liuren, knows their mindset, and managing them is smoother, greatly reducing administrative costs.

Moreover, after they pledge allegiance and become minor leaders, they will only be more loyal!

(The homeroom teacher's strategy, making Troublemakers the class monitor.)

At the same time, it rewards his Surrender, showing the other Liuren rebels in Hezhou that once they submit to the Court, merit will be richly recognized.

Three gains in one move!

Chen Yan's lips curled slightly as he instructed You Xian, "Send someone to bring that surrenderer to Old Gu!"

"Yes." You Xian nodded, ordering two embroidered‑clad envoys to handle it.

Hua Jiao, having listened for a while, could no longer contain his curiosity; he stepped forward, clasped his fists, bowed, and asked with eager tone, "Grand General, how did you cause Auspicious Time Pass to quake and become engulfed in flames?"

He added, his eyes full of inquiry, "Is this truly a celestial technique?"

Hua Jiao has been on campaigns for years and has never seen such methods; he is at a loss to comprehend…

Especially after witnessing it with his own eyes, he was utterly stunned.

Yuwen Ze seemed thoughtful, as if recalling something; a strange hue flashed in his eyes as he looked at Chen Yan and asked, "A Xiong, could the explosion at Auspicious Time Pass share the same origin as the incident on the Laji Festival day?"

That scene was too similar to the Laji Festival day…

It was practically identical!

The only difference is that Auspicious Time Pass's sweep was greater and the explosion far more violent!

"Exactly."

Chen Yan nodded, smiled calmly, and answered, "That thing is called gunpowder…"

"That day, I had You Xian lead the embroidered envoys; tonight, under dark, windy conditions, they slipped into Auspicious Time Pass unseen, first planting gunpowder and then scattering secret‑crafted fuel along the way…"

"When the ignited arrows fell, tonight's spectacle was created!"

Before setting out from Chang'an for the campaign, Chen had already taken a large stock of gunpowder and fuel…

Coupled with the Liuren forming an army, whose combat awareness was weak, they collapsed at the first strike, making victory that easy.

"So that's it!" Yuwen Ze exclaimed, his realization evident.

The doubt in Hua Jiao's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a beaming smile; he stepped forward two paces, clasped his hands, bowed to Chen, and with unabashed flattery said, "Grand General Chen, you truly are a deity!"

Saying so, he thrust his thumb up sharply, his tone rising a few notes, "Subordinate General, today I finally understand what it means to strategize and win a battle a thousand miles away!"

His demeanor and bearing seemed to have fully grasped Zeng Tai's essence…

Chen Yan smiled calmly, raised his hand and gave a light tap, then his smile faded, his expression turning solemn; his gaze swept the tent's occupants, and in a deep voice he ordered, "Send the orders, rest for one night, depart at dawn tomorrow, and rescue Fuhan!"